Flagstaff.



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

CHARLES LEWIS RYANSK, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

FLAGSTAFF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led July 31, 1911. Serial No. 641,420.

To all 'whom 'it 'may concern:

Be it known that I., CHARLES L. RYANS, a citizen'of the United States, residing at Covington, in the county of Kenton and State of Kentucky, have invented cert-.un new and useful Improvements'in Flagstai's, of which the following is a specification. n

My invention relates to improvements 1n flag staffs, and has particular reference to an improved form of flag staff particularly adapted for use on train-mens signaling fla s.

'Ihe leading object of my invention is the provision of an improved folding flag 'staff especially adapted for railway use which may be folded up to pack away in a small and compact signal box but which when extended will be of considerable length and will thus serve to display a large flag which may be readily perceived at a distance and will consequently tend to `obviate tail end collisions or like accidents caused by the signal flags being so small as to be unnoticed.

Other objects and advantages of my improved lag staff will be readily apparent by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and it will be-understood that I may make any modifications in the specific'structure shown and described. within the scope of my claim without departing from or exf c eeding the spirit of my lnvention.

Figure 1l represents a viewofl my flag in folded and rolled up position. I Fig. 2 represents a View of the staff extended showing a fragmentary portion of the flag. Fig. 3 represents an enlarged detailed view of the hinged portion, and Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of the stati' in partly folded position. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of one of the staffs.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates one of the rods of m improved flag staff, while the numeral 2 said rods. Said rods are rounded but have on one side the iattened faces 3, while secured to said flattened faces at their adjacent ends is the hinge 4. When in extended position the ends of the' rods strike against each other and limit their movement' on the hinge to cause the two rods to extend in alinement with each other and form Ithe complete Hag staff; while when in folded position the two rods swing with their flat faces against each other To hold the rods l.ill

esignates the other of sleeve 5, and to lock the rod 2 to the portion 6 I employ the sliding ring? which is mounted upon the rod 2 and is adapted to be slid along the rod 2 until it of the portion 6 and loc s the bar 2 to the portion 6. If desired the portion' 6 of the sleeve may be formed with bosses 8 to limit the movement of the ring toward the hinge 4.

Secured to the flat faces 3 of the rods 1 and 2 is a flag 9, the flags being made in various colors according to the signal to be given the engineer of yanother train by the flag, the flag in this instance being illustrated as red. I have indicated at the center of the flag a crease, and when it is not desired to use the flag I shift the locking ring 7 out,of engagement with the portion 6 of the sleeve 5 and then fold the rods 1 and 2 together, thus doubling the flag. It is then merely necessary to roll the doubled flag around the folded rods when the flag and flag staff may be placed away in small space, it being shown in Fig. 1 in its folded and rolled condition.

p From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the construction of my improved staff for signaling'fiags will be readily understood, and it will be seen that I have provided a simple lwhile durable folding staff which will serve to support and display a large flag when desired but which may be packed into small space when not -in use and which will consequently commend itself to all railways as highly desirable on account of its economy of storing space and on account of the sizeof Hag which may be displayed therefrom.

I claim:

A folding flag staff comprising a pair of hingedly connected rods each having a fiattened face, and to which is secured oneedge of a flag, a half sleeve secured to one of the rods and having a projecting portion to embrace one end of the other rod when un- Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

asses over the end and held against accidental displacement by the rods thus unfurling the iag as the rods 10 the secured edge of the flag said ring being are unfolded.

adapted to engage the projected portion of In testimony whereof I aix my signature, the sleeve to hold the rods in their unfolded in the presence of two Witnesses.

position, said flattened faces being brought into Contact when the rods are folded, Where- CHARLE LEWIS RYANS' by the flag is creased lengthwise to be Wound Witnesses:

on the rods when folded and being adapted Gr. W. CREE,

to be unWound previous to the unfolding of C. l. HOLLINGSWORTH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

